Supplier Side
Squeezable Surlyn
HCT Packaging Inc. (Bridgewater, NJ) has introduced a unique new tottle. According to HCT, the tottle is made from soft Surlyn that makes the package easier to squeeze than conventional tottles. In addition to being user-friendly, the tottle offers good barrier properties for a range of formulations.
The tottle is available with a unique thermoplastic elastomer applicator tip that was designed to feel comfortable on the lips while providing accurate, even application.
American FlexPack Is on the Move
American FlexPack announced its plans to move to a new, expanded plant in Green Bay, WI. The company is a contract packager of single-use pouches that can be filled with liquids, creams, lotions, and gels, as well as presaturated towelettes and wipes. Its formulas include tanning, sunscreen, spa, and lotion products, and other personal care products.
“With the current expansion, our new facility brings five new production lines on board, to a total of a dozen,” says Michael Mackey, the company’s president. “Additionally, we have space for at least a dozen more packaging lines.”
Surefil Rolls Out Two-Millionth Bottle
Surefil LLC (Grand Rapids, MI), a newly established contract manufacturer in the personal care industry, rolled out its two-millionth bottle during the launch of a 47-SKU line of shampoos and conditioner.
Surefil opened its world headquarters on March 14. The company also recently celebrated the launch of a 3-SKU line of mouthwash created from its own formula. Its customer developed the mouthwash bottle, which included a childproof cap and neck-banding.
“We currently have more than 40 million units of filling capacity available to potential brand partners,” says Bill Hunt, Surefil CEO.
RPC Group Acquires Crown Risdon Europe
RPC Group, a supplier of rigid plastic packaging, has acquired the assets of supplier Crown Risdon Europe.
Crown Risdon Europe’s facilities will enhance those of RPC Cresstale, RPC Group’s cosmetic packaging division. Crown Risdon Europe’s Marolles and Mozzate plants, and RPC Cresstale, will be grouped under the name RPC Beauté. The division will be managed by Denis Pandolfi, formerly the general manager for Crown Risdon Europe.
With the acquisition, RPC Group now owns 49 plants in 12 European countries and the United Sates.
One-Handed Dispensing
Packaging distributor TricorBraun (St. Louis) has created a prototype of a lotion pump that requires only one hand to operate. Unlike traditional dispensers that require customers to use one hand to depress the pump and the other hand to dispense product into, the new pump features a platform that allows customers to use the same hand to depress the pump and catch the product as it is dispensed.
To use the pump, a customer must simply place the back of his or her hand, palm facing up, against the platform. While the customer uses the back of his or her hand to press down on the platform, product dispenses into his or her open palm.
“There have been no changes in the lotion pump for almost 40 years,” says Craig Sawicki, executive vice president of TricorBraun Design. “People have become so accustomed to using two hands to dispense viscous fluids from a bottle that packaging designers have not thought about how to improve upon it.”
Sawicki cited an example of when the one-handed dispenser would be beneficial. “A hair stylist can reach with one hand to dispense shampoo, conditioner, or styling products while continuing [another] application with the other hand.”
Airless Package for Men
Airlessystems (Metropolitaine, France) has introduced a new airless dispenser called Titan. The piston-operated package is designed to prevent air from entering the package, protecting product formulations from oxidation.
The Titan dispenser is suited for highly viscous formulas. Its piston allows product to be dispensed when the container is held at any angle. The package is available in sizes of 30, 50, and 75 ml. Aesthetically, the dispenser was designed with the men’s skin care market in mind.
Titan is suited for filling with high-speed machines. It is provided with the pump, collar, and cap preassembled in one piece, and the body, piston, and base preassembled in another. Once the package is filled, the two parts can be snapped together.
Carolina Precision Plastics Acquires Augros
Packaging supplier Carolina Precision Plastics LLC (CPP; Asheboro, NC) has acquired the assets of Augros Inc. (Ronkonkoma, NY). Augros is an injection molder of cosmetic packaging components. CPP molds, assembles, and decorates packaging components for cosmetics, including the redesigned lipstick case for Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick.
CPP plans on operating out of Augros’s Ronkonkoma facility. It will also begin transferring select business to its North Carolina plant to better serve customers located in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions. In addition to the acquisition, CPP plans to form a join venture with a China-based company by the end of this year.
“We recognize the need to offer our customers the option of manufacturing in a low-cost country,” says Brian Tauber, president and CEO of CPP. “Our partner is a well-established, high-quality molder that…should provide a tremendous source of overseas production.”
In 2005, CPP created an alliance with French molder and designer I-Pack, which provides fragrance and spray pumps.
Carton for Caron
Mandalay Design (Boulogne, France), a subsidiary of transparent packaging supplier Cosfibel Group, created a carton for a men’s cologne gift set by Caron.
The carton combines thick, 2-mm board and a PVC-windowed lid. The carton’s paper features a matte silver finish and shiny hot stamping. The package was manufactured in China.
M&H Plastics’ New Jar Line
Following its acquisition of HPL Jars, M&H Plastics (Beccles, UK), a supplier of bottles, closures, jars, and containers, announced it has acquired the Audus Noble/Dines line of PET jars. This includes the new Kilner jar series.
With the new additions, M&H Plastics now offers a full line of double-walled heavyweight jars in SAN, polypropylene, and polystyrene; single-walled heavyweight jars in SAN and polypropylene; single-walled medium-weight jars in SAN and polypropylene; and single-walled PET jars.
Audus Noble is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of PET jars. In 2005, Audus Noble acquired Dines Plastics.
Method Home’s New Foam Dispenser
For its new foaming hand soap package, Method Home chose a dispenser from supplier Rexam Airspray (Pompano Beach, FL). The pump is Rexam Airspray’s translucent, water-resistant WRT4 one-touch foaming model. It adorns a 300-ml PET bottle silk-screened and embossed with Method’s signature “M” logo.
Designed by Karim Rashid, the line of foam soaps initially launched nationally in Target stores.
International Paper Relocates
International Paper has relocated its global headquarters to Memphis. Previously, the company’s headquarters were located in Stamford, CT. The new headquarters are at 6500 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38197.
International Paper employs approximately 3000 people in Memphis. The firm has been supplying forestry products for more than 100 years.